14:35 Chepstow

Wednesday 7 November 2018

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:4016:15

Siteserv Recycling Ltd Supporting Velindre Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 23.2s

Lord Ballim^h,t¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 126

20/1

Shaped well over fences last time at Carlisle and travelled like one of the better horses in the race (faded to finish 4th; ran keenly). Now back over hurdles (has won over them) but suspicion he's a little better over a slightly shorter trip.

Form: 178254

Western Climate¹⁶⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: C Poste| T: T H Weston| OR: 125| D

33/1

Dual chase winner either side of the end of the year but rather disappointed over fences after that. Switched back to hurdles for his last two starts with his hurdling still open to question; pulled up when last seen, something to prove.

Form: 147P4-P

Settimo Milanese¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 125| D

3/1

Won twice over the brush hurdles in novice/maiden company on good ground before running into another improving type at Aintree on his GB handicap debut. No match for the winner there but still looks ahead of the handicapper.

Form: 0-P2112

Master Tradesman²⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade| OR: 122| D

25/1

Twice a winner in point-to-points his last two novice hurdles starts have indicated that he has ability over hurdles as he now goes handicapping for the first time. May need a little experience but should not be ignored in the market.

Form: 42/P522-

Django Django³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 121

10/3

Took a 2m novice hurdle at Huntingdon in good style and looked set for a decent handicap career. Yet to quite sparkle in this sphere (couple of poor runs) but shaped better than the distance he was beaten last time on his return from a break.

Form: 21409-5

The Welsh Paddies²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 121

7/1

Yard possibly not quite firing at the moment and this Warwick 2m5f novice hurdle winner from last year looks to have been handed a stiff rating. Dropped just 4lb from his opening mark and has work to do with most of these.

Form: 73/2150-

Whitley Neill^p,t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 121

15/2

Caused a bit of a surprise when making a winning hurdles debut in April; has had some wind surgery since. First-time cheekpieces plus a handicap debut and being upped in trip appeared to bring about some progress last time; 3m makes him of interest.

Form: 60/1-433

Judge Earle³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 119

25/1

Consistent sort over hurdles (won first time back from a wind op) who was outclassed in a match on his fencing debut for his old yard. Now reverts to hurdles on his first run for this team; may just be a little too high in the weights.

Form: 0-13322

Marble Moon²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 118| D

16/1

Improved by the run since making his handicap debut in May and has travelled well in all his races; made all in a small field last time over 3m. Upped another 4lb for a narrow win last time the handicapper asks him a further question here.

Form: 75-1111

Laugharne¹⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 117| D

16/1

Benefitted from the run of the race last time (responded well to pressure) when winning at Southwell on his 3rd start for this yard. Won't find things so easy here but his attitude will stand him in good stead; wins have come on better ground.

Form: 77/452-1

Socksy^t²⁰²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 117

12/1

Dual Towcester hurdles winner who enjoys a test of stamina and looked suited by the switch to chasing last season although she was below form on her last start in that sphere. Now back over hurdles off a lower mark but this is likely to be a pipe-ope

Form: 1/13427-

Frankly Speaking¹⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 115

25/1

Yet to win over hurdles but has produced some decent efforts in handicaps although his attitude can look a little quirky and is holding him back from that elusive win. Up 6lb from his last run his demeanour tempers enthusiasm for him.

Form: 583422-

Late Shipment^p⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 111

40/1

Seen to good effect around Hereford early last year winning three times and upped in grade for a fair amount of his races subsequently off much higher marks. Given a run on the Flat in August and mark now just above his last winning one.

Form: 74F573-

Royal Claret²⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds| OR: 104| BF

11/1

Won off the back of a break having been pulled up on her handicap debut and showed up well when raised in grade last time out in April. Has to concede race fitness to a few of these but would be of interest if ready to go off this mark.

Form: 5/44P13-

Forecasts

Settimo Milanese (3/1), Django Django (10/3), The Welsh Paddies (7/1), Whitley Neill (15/2), Royal Claret (11/1), Socksy (12/1), Laugharne (16/1), Marble Moon (16/1), Lord Ballim (20/1), Frankly Speaking (25/1), Master Tradesman (25/1), Judge Earle (25/1), Western Climate (33/1), Late Shipment (40/1)

A really interesting contest with quite a few that will fancy their chances. Marble Moon has been in good form of late and goes for a five-timer here off a career-high mark and may just find this a step too far. Royal Claret could well be well treated off a mark of 104 if she is ready for this having shown a lot of promise in her last two starts with Django Django looking to be better than his last run. Whitley Neill could well appreciate this trip but SETTIMO MILANESE ran into an improving sort last time and still looks ahead of the handicapper.